They know the eyes of the United States will be on them from thousands of miles away, and they say they are ready.

The Americans will try to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002 when they play Belgium on Tuesday.

"For some of the guys, it's the last opportunity, so we have to make the most of it," U.S. captain Clint Dempsey said. "And I'm sure if we play to the best of our ability, we'll get a positive result."

There were two bits of news on the eve of the match. Jozy Altidore has recovered sufficiently from his left hamstring strain to be available, although it appears he is unlikely to start. The forward has not played since the Americans' June 16 opener, when he was taken off the pitch on a stretcher.

"Just having him with us tomorrow is huge," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Monday, adding that Altidore's time on the field depends on "how much work is in his legs."

Klinsmann created a stir by saying he isn't happy with FIFA's choice of referee, Algeria's Djamel Haimoudi. His nation was eliminated by the U.S. in 2010, and Algeria played in the same first-round group as Belgium.

"Is it a good feeling? No," Klinsmann said at a news conference.

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots dismissed Klinsmann's comments, saying: "If we start going into this, it is looking for excuses ahead of the match."

The United States and Belgium haven't played in the World Cup since the first tournament in 1930, a 3-0 win by the Americans.

A lot more people are following now. The U.S. team averaged more than 18 million viewers on ESPN and Spanish-language Univision for its three first-round games, and viewing parties are scheduled for Tuesday ranging from Solider Field in Chicago to San Francisco's Civic Center.

A victory would put the U.S. in a Saturday quarterfinal against Argentina or Switzerland. With kickoff at 1 p.m. PDT, people are expected to leave work early, take extended lunch breaks and sneak looks at online streams from their mobile phones and office desktops.

"It means a lot to us, the energy that comes from the United States," said Klinsmann. "You see where the game is going in the United States. You can't stop it anymore. It's breaking through."

The 13th-ranked Americans are in the knockout rounds of consecutive World Cups for the first time. Belgium, ranked 11th after missing the past two World Cups, has won three straight games at soccer's showcase for the first time.

But the Red Devils are hurting. Central defender Vincent Kompany (strained left groin) is questionable and left back Thomas Vermaelen (right hamstring) is out. Midfielders Moussa Dembele and Marouane Fellaini - known for his mop of bushy dark hair - have been slowed by calf injuries.

Fellaini is a former Everton teammate of American goalkeeper Tim Howard, who played with Belgian forwards Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas last season. Howard also is familiar with Eden Hazard, who was criticized for his play during the first round despite setting up go-ahead goals against Russia and Algeria.

"Probably one of the best players in the Premier League," Howard said. "He's shifty. He's crafty. He's everything you want in a winner."

Dempsey, 31, and 32-year-old defender DaMarcus Beasley are unlikely to be on the 2018 roster. Howard, 35, hasn't committed to another four-year cycle.